About

Famous Fido founder, Gloria Lissner, has been rescuing homeless animals since 1975. She was driven to reduce the staggering number of adoptable animals destroyed every year in the Chicagoland area. In 1997, more than 42,000 companion animals were destroyed. By 2009 the number had gone down to 15,000 and in 2014 it finally fell below 10,000 because of the efforts of organizations like Famous Fido. Gloria, her staff and all the volunteers at Famous Fido are passionate about raising the profile of the problem so that one day the number will be zero. We want to forge an alliance with other like-minded individuals, organizations and shelters, to put an end to the countless deaths of adoptable animals caused by overpopulation‚ and a chronic inability to match up animals in a timely manner with loving guardians.

Other cities, such as San Francisco, have paved the way in significantly reducing the problem and the suffering, demonstrating that Chicago can be a model for compassion. We work with current owners to re-home prior to surrender to shelters. We network to find foster homes. We provide shelter to animals for which these solutions were not possible, and we work with those animals to rehabilitate them in both health needs and in socialization so that they become adoptable.

We provide spaying and neutering information, micro-chipping outreach, adoption information, pet care education, a support system for adopters, and we work with many senior and special needs animals – extra service not given in many shelters. Overall, we provide lots of love and nurturing for body and spirit for those animals in our care. We strive to be a advocacy, wellness and learning center. Please help us continue our services by participating in this fund-raising effort.